Changing preference-revolvers vs semi-autos

[ravencon]

For the last several decades the substantial majority of my handguns have been semi-autos. Of late I've been buying revolvers and selling some of my semis. I surprised myself by doing an inventory check and realized that a bare majority of my handguns are now revolvers.

Have any of you THRs undergone a similar change (in either direction)?

 

[DawgFvr]

I think we go through phases...and we grow wiser with each gun purchase. My semi .45 is 10 + 1 rounds, is fairly small, feeds & shoots well. I, however, derive much pleasure dry-firing my wheelgun while watching TV and love the heft of the piece. There is something about a wheel gun. This is a chaotic world...very little is guaranteed and we seem to have so little control over life. We compensate by making daily rituals or routines that give us some sense of order or control. I do know, with utter certainty, that when I pull the trigger on a wheel gun...it always goes bang...and how I love the snickity click of the action beforehand.

 

[10-Ring]

I have some of each just for those changes in the way I view my carry / shooting needs...from j-frame wheelgun to Python to Jetfire to USP Expert - I have a gun for all seasons

 

[Checkman]

Same here. Over the past few years I've devloped a fondness for revolvers. I'm 39 now and the old six-shooter just appeals to me. Didn't used to, but now they do. Still have my Glocks and a Sig, but my next purchase will be a S&W Model 15.

 

[Old Fuff]

You stay away from that model 15.... I WANT IT!!!

Anyway, I have used both pistols and revolvers and find merit in both. But at the moment my hands are semi-crippled and I have trouble loading magazines, and pulling back slides on larger service automatics. It may take two hands, but I can still load and shoot revolvers. I will prevail.

 

[srtboise]

when i was in my 20s i thought semi autos were the only good guns. i couldn't afford to buy all the guns i wanted and i had fantasies of shooting ipsc with tricked out race guns.

now that i am older, late 30s, i find the only semi auto that holds any appeal to me is my factory stock kimber classic custom. i look at other semi autos and feel none of them can fill a niche that my kimber cannot.

the last few years have found me on a revolver kick. there is something about the simplicity of a revolver that really appeals to me. and to be able to shoot fast and accurately with a double action revolver is a feat i will be proud to eventually master.

i have an expectation in my mind that my kimber will not function if i drop it in the mud. i also have an expectation that any of my revolvers will function if i dropped them in the mud. i have never tested this, just a perception in my mind.

my kimber used to go with me as often as my revolvers around town but lately i have felt ever so slightly more secure when carrying a revolver. if i go into the woods my kimber stays home.

steve

 

[vanilla_gorilla]

I've never been big on revolvers, and only owned one until last year. I have been carrying 1911s almost exclusively, and have a couple that satisfy me for carry and shooting, as well as a High Power. I really have no interest in any other autos, and have found my interest turning more and more toward revolvers. This time last year, I owned a Taurus 85 .38 Special. Since then, I've purchased a S&W 629, a 28, and a Ruger GP-100. I soon hope to be the owner of at least another 28 and maybe a 27.

 

[Confederate]

There's something about revolvers that appeals to me, too. I have some auto pistols in my collection, but I don't shoot them much. It's fascinating to shoot so fast that the flying brass is going all over the place. Ultimately, though, it becomes old hat. Revolvers seem to be better at pointing and shooting. Power also tips its hat to the revolver.

 

[michael_aos]

For just plain old fun to shoot handgun, my Model 67 really delivers.

 

[michael_aos]

Lately this new 686SSR is really calling me.

 

[jad0110]

See my sig line .

At first I was only interested in autos, then I a guy 4" S&W 66. I like semi autos, but I just prefer revolvers. I would like to get a 1911 one day though.

 

[Atticus]

I'm currently at a 50/50 ratio...that's the way God intended it to be.

 

[Checkman]

I was an okay shooter, but since I've gotten into revolvers I've found that my shooting ability has improved with semi-autos as well as revolvers. In my opinion they're harder to shoot and not nearly as forgiving if you're not adhering to the basics.

So not only are revolvers fun, but they're great trainers in my humble opinion.

 

[glassman]

Im going in the other direction...I purchased a s/w 686 and for me, it's an excellent choice. Problem is that it's not one that you can drop in your pocket and go. Now I'm looking for a semi to fill that bill.

 

[dont_matr]

I have noticed a void in my handgun collection which I have intend to correct in the near future with a Model 36, a 4" Model 19, a Model 29, maybe a 2.5" Diamondback, and/or perhaps a S&W or Colt M1917....my 686+ probably feels very lonely in the safe right now.

 

[axeman_g]

started with a s&w model 66...
the owned semis for the next 20 years....
now back to revolvers and only have one semi.

But a new 1911 is calling out to me.

 

[bill larry]

I only own revolvers now...I sold my last semi auto (an old Llama .38 Super that shot unbelieveably well and looked like a left over from D-Day) and have never looked back.

Personally, I find revolvers much easier to shoot, and there's something really satisfying about emptying a revolver on target as fast as you can.

 

[Will5A1]

There is something, for me, that is just so right about revolvers. The form fitting function aspect, the knowledge that my Dad carried a S&W Victory, the inherent craftsmanship, especially on the older ones; revolvers just suit me better than autos. If, Heaven forbid, some future law limits each of us to one handgun, or if circumstances forced me to sell off all my guns, I'll be keeping a wheelgun.

 

[Old Fuff]

Well at least I don't have to keep bending over to pick up brass...

Darn hard to "fluff & buff" the feed ramp on a six-shooter too ...

 

[pinotguy]

I'm a dyed-in-the-wool 1911 guy. I can positively say that I'll always have more 1911's (or semi's for that matter) than revo's. However, I recently picked up a new S&W 625 and can honestly say that I've seen the light with regard to revolvers. They definitely have an appealing quality. I will be adding more . . .

Now if I can just find an S&W 610, 646, and one of their PC .38 Super models, I'll be set.

 

[mgh]

I moved from semi-auto's to revolvers over the last few years, mainly because the arthritis in my hands made it difficult to rack the slide on my 1911 .45, and the 9mm Kahr. Hard to take them apart for cleaning, too. Also, even though I have high quality semi's, they were never 100% reliable. Three, four, five hundred rounds, then a jam. (The only semi I owned that never jammed was a S&W Model 910 (9mm) which I, like a fool, sold.)

I put the semi's in the safe and started shooting my Colt Police Positive, and S&W Model 60. I got the gun buying bug and got a Ruger GP100. And the first decent S&W Model 10 with 3" barrel that I run across, I'll have to buy that too. I've come to enjoy shooting revolvers, and I trust them. Of course, I sure miss that 1911. Oh well, it's all good.

 

[Yo]

All my recent handgun purchases have been revolvers, mostly S&W Performance center. I would purchase older Wheelguns but, sadly, I live in CA and most of the good older stuff is verbotten here.

#1 With Wheelguns, you don't have to pick up brass
#2 With Wheelguns you can reload for absolute accuracy, regardless of cycling energy.
#3 Revolver accuracy is superior to almost any semi. I have a couple revolvers that will group inside 1" at FIFTY (50) yards with my handloads.
#4 If you shoot single action (and why not if you're target shooting), it is hard to beat a tuned S&W or Colt wheelgun. The trigger on the older Pythons is close to perfection.
#5 Most of the recent crop of semi-autos are really fairly mediocre. Bad ergonomics (XD), bad triggers (HK USP), stupendously awful triggers (Glock), or poor quality control (Kahr, Taurus). Who needs any of that?

Get a Sig, a older SW model 52, or a good 1911. What more do you need?

 

[mndfusion]

Yea my 1st handgun was an auto my last one a revolver.

Dan Wesson's M15 is possably the finest revolver ever made, but my Smith Wesson 60-10 .357 is my favorite.

 

[mndfusion]

Thats the 60-10 and my taurus 85 under it.

 

[Run&Shoot]

gotta have both!

I started with a couple of revolvers in my twenties, then switched to a few autos. Then I started reloading and got a Redhawk .44 and a GP100 and later a SW642. Then I read some accounts like FerFALs, the LA riots, Boston's Gun Bible, etc. about the practicality of a fast reload and lots of mag capacity.

So, about eight years ago I started buying Glocks, a 1911, a few SIGs, and HPs. But most recently I bought a really sweet S&W 67 .38.

The revolver can handle 98% of all normal situations. But, if I was found in the middle of an urban riot, or on the road when a disaster strikes, I would prefer to have my Glock with four spare mags handy.